India-Bangladesh Rice Imports Begin via Road Route

28-Aug-2025 06:12 PM

Dhaka. The Bangladesh government has allowed private traders to import 5 lakh tonnes of rice duty-free and the 20 percent customs duty imposed on it was withdrawn on 13 August 2025. Private traders have been allowed to import 4.60 lakh tonnes of Sela rice and 39 thousand tonnes of raw (white) rice.

The interesting fact is that a day before that, on 12 August 2025, the Government of India had announced the opening of the road border route for bilateral trade. This route was closed on 15 April. As a result, the obstacle to import-export of rice was removed.

Bangladesh importers and Indian exporters had already received information about the decision taken by the governments of both the countries regarding rice trade and opening of road route, so Indian exporters deposited rice stock in the warehouse located around Petrapole-Binapole border road.

On the other hand, Bangladeshi importers had already started making deals for its purchase. As a result, as soon as the end of duty was announced in Bangladesh on 13th August, trucks loaded with Indian rice started crossing the border and reaching Bangladesh.

Since India is the closest neighbour of Bangladesh and there is a huge exportable stock of cheap rice, its importers are not facing any difficulty in importing Indian rice.

Although Bangladesh also shares its border with Myanmar and there is a good export of rice from there, Bangladeshi importers give priority to the purchase of Indian rice.

Not only this, but they are also not interested in importing it from Pakistan, whereas during the last few months, the relations between the two countries have improved a lot, while the relations with India have not been very pleasant.

It is understood that the traders of Bangladesh would like to buy the entire quota of five lakh tonnes of rice or most of it from India because this import is relatively cheaper.